Rep. Al Green wins House passage of legislation to help homeless vets

Houston-area Congressman Al Green is praising House passage of his legislation to create a top post at the Department of Housing and Urban Development to help homeless veterans.

The Houston Democrat said the legislation that cleared the House on a vote of 414 to 5 would create a special assistant for veterans’ affairs at the Cabinet-level agency to coordinate services to homeless veterans.

The post also would serve as a liaison with the Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Inter-agency Council on Homelessness, state and local officials, and nonprofit service organizations.

Green said his measure also will require an annual report card from HUD on “the housing needs of homeless veterans and the steps HUD has taken” to address their requirements.

“Homelessness among veterans is unacceptable and reflects a failure to act to protect the men and women who risk their lives abroad to protect our freedoms at home,” Green said.

“The Homes for Heroes Act will help coordinate the government’s efforts to assess the housing needs of veterans, which will provide necessary information to further reduce homelessness among these veterans,” Green said.

The lawmaker noted that on any given night, over 600,000 people are homeless in the United States – many of them veterans. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs reports that approximately 134,000 veterans experience homelessness each year.

In Texas an estimated 4,891 veterans are homeless – including more than 2,000 veterans in Houston alone.

Green’s proposal now moves to the Senate for consideration where it faces an uncertain fate.